San José to Managua by train
Managua lies 340 km (211 mi) north-west of San José, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 4 h 53 min at the speeds typical of Costa Rica and Nicaragua rail, over roughly 415 km (258 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| San José | Managua | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Costa Rica | Nicaragua |
| Population | 335,007 | 973,087 |
| Elevation | 1,133 m (3,717 ft) | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-6 (America/Costa_Rica) | UTC-6 (America/Managua) |
| Stations on record | Pacífico railway station | none listed |
What changes when you arrive in Managua
Crossing from Costa Rica into Nicaragua: money changes from the Colon to the Cordoba (NIO); the dialling code becomes +505; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q11185210 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648801.
Where to book trains from San José to Managua
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Managua
Our booking partner lists 165 places to stay in Managua. Of the 131 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (81), and 8 are five-star. Across 44 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.5 out of 10. Guests have left 18,996 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Managua
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Managua from San José?
340 km (211 mi) in a straight line, north-west of San José; by road roughly 415 km (258 mi).
How long does it take to get from San José to Managua by train?
About 4 h 53 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between San José and Managua?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Managua?
The Cordoba (NIO).
Where can I stay in Managua?
Our booking partner lists 165 places to stay in Managua, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.